Grambling State University held an Alumni Round Table Discussion in Grambling Hall’s auditorium during Homecoming week.
Led by GSU President Dr. Frank G. Pogue, Friday’s discussion focused on university needs and emphasized the importance of alumni contribution. Alumni were contacted by using social media.
“The alumni panel created the round table discussion on Facebook, but now since we reached a lot of Alumni we decided to bring here to Grambling Hall,” said Deborah Johnson, director of alumni relations.
The panel strongly believes every alumnus should give back to GSU, but the university faces other issues. According to Dr. Pogue, the state is cutting funding every semester and a big reason why current students are seeing an increase in tuition.
The University of Louisiana System’s budget is different from any other state due to Gov. Bobby Jindal cutting the finances of higher education and grade school.
“If you graduated from Grambling State University and you are very successful with a high paying job, you owe something to the University by at least giving back something to help with cuts,” said Johnson.
These budget cuts are expected to severely impact the enrollment of GSU during the fall 2014 semester, with the loss of developmental courses and cut to out of state fee waivers, in which 44 percent of GSU’s enrollment is out of state students.
Students who attend or previously attended GSU were accepted even though those students had to take a developmental course. Without the courses the University will take a decline in the enrollment process.
The cuts are not only affecting the students, it’s affecting the staff of the institutions.
“The dramatic decrease in funding is causing universities in Louisiana to cut staff and reserves,” said Leon Sanders, vice president of finances.
According to the panel the state’s Budgeting and Priority says the state will support 25 percent of the states education by 2016.
For in state students, tuition has increased by 40 percent
Not only does a rise in tuition cause a problem for the institution, but also the Grad Act, which states 25 percent of the funds the school receives, depends on graduation and retention rates.
During the close of the discussion, the panel members reverted back to helping GSU financially.
However, alumnus claims confusion for the lack of financial support.
“We want to give back, but sometimes it is unclear whom to give it to,” said class of 1999 alumnus Andy Brown.